Here and There in the South Island

[Peter Lewis]

After my three days at the Omaka Classic Fighters show we travelled from Blenheim down to Christchurch, then through Ashburton and Omarama to Queenstown. From there we moved across to Te Anau. After an overnight cruise on Milford Sound it was a backtrack to Te Anau then up the West Coast back to Blenheim. The final leg was on the Cook strait ferry over to Wellington and then home via the Desert Road.

Although we did move along, covering 4720km in 19 days, I did manage to call in at some airfields as well as Omaka. There were a few interesting items.

Firstly, here a few aircraft that were hidden away in the dark corners at Omaka during the show:

Cropmaster ZK-CPW has been recovered from its sojurn at the Ashburton museum. Nice to see a Croppie active once more



The Helio H-250 Courier II ZK-TCE participated in previous shows, but sat this one out



Trevor Collin's other pet, Porterfield 35-70 Flyabout ZK-POR, was likewise inactive



Hidden around the back was brand new Tecnam P2008 ZK-MBN/2, in from Mangonui



After showtime, Boeing-Stearman A75N1 ZK-KJO was busy doing joyrides



While Aeronca 7AC ZK-KCO was tied down for the duration



Tiger ZK-SSA was taxiied back to the hangar each evening



The Monday morning after the show ended saw Jan White's Gardan GY-20 Minicab ZK-RJK moving around



while the lack of crowds enabled me to get a clear shot of the unique-in-NZ tailwheel Cessna 172 ZK-OMK.



more to come

[suthg]

Lovely shots Peter - glad you had your eyes open! An interesting array of extra planes... most obviously not related to the show but there nonetheless.

[flyjoe180]

Nice selection of photos there Peter. What became of the original MBN, the Seminole?

[Peter Lewis]

Went to Australia in 2007, now VH-MPN

[Peter Lewis]

Heading over to Woodbourne I found the Vincent Aviation BAe.146 ZK-ECO/3 arriving. This was a charter flight from Wellington for those who wished to make a one-day trip to the Omaka show



Also parked out at Woodbourne was the Sounds Air Caravan ZK-TZR and Wellington-based Cirrus SR22 ZK-YUG/2





A bit further around I found the 'Soviet Star' flight simulator. This comprises the cockpit section from Aero L-29 Delfin ZK-SSS/2 that was damaged in an overrun of the runway at North Shore 1Feb09.



L-29 ZK-SSU was seen departing the field at that time.

At the western end of Woodbourne there is a light aircraft parking area. This is traditionally reserved for visitors to the air show, but was fairly sparsly populated this time around . Apart from the usual suspects, only Hamilton-based Just Aircraft Escapade ZK-SKP was worthy of note



Down at the RNZAF compound, Boeing 727-100C NZ7272 is still serving out its retirement as a training aid



Just up the road, Argosy ZK-SAE seems to be well looked after, though the cafe/restaurant was shut at the time I visited

[Peter Lewis]

Heading south from Blenheim, we passed through Kaikoura. Nothing new aviation-wise there.

We had arranged to stay with friends at Rangiora. They arer involved with the Christchurch post-earthquake rebuild, so we were given a conducted tour not only of the CBD but also of the heavily damaged residentyial areas.


It is really difficult to visualize the scale of the damage in the affected suburbs unless you see for yourself.

There are whole streets of wrecked, abandoned houses just sitting there. Quite ghostly.



Even worse, there are some poor souls still hanging on in those areas that have largely been abandoned by everyone else



Having seen this devastation, the scrubby debris-laden unkempt appearance of the replica Spitfire memorial and its surroundings at the entrance to the airport didn't seem quite so bad after all



Off to the Air Force museum at Wigram, where the recently renovated Harvard NZ1050 seemed a jewel by comparision



Inside the museum, the new extension was still being fitted out. The A-4L Skyhawk representing NZ6207 has been lowered down from its upper-level perch and was parked in this new area



Alongside it were recent arrivals Aermacchi MB339CB NZ6460 and A-4K Skyhawk NZ6205





In the main display area, CT-4B Airtrainer NZ1948 has been moved from the storage hangar to a location under the wing of the C-47



and TA-4K Skyhawk NZ6254 takes pride of place in the centre of the room



It is really good to see this museum steadily improving over the years.

[Dave Homewood]

The A-4L was always on the floor in the Atrium, it has never neen suspended like the other three aircraft there.

Great to see the Airtrainer getting highlighted in the main hall.

[Peter Lewis]

You are right, the A4L was on the floor.
I wonder what made me think otherwise?

[Peter Lewis]

After Christchurch, we had one day to drive from there down to Queenstown. According to the TomTom lady, the quickest route was via Ashburton, Fairlie and Omarama. Even so, that's a fair amount of miles under wheels for one day.

Calling in at the Ashburton airfield, we were welcomed by the sight of the Beech 17 VH-UXP in the circuit. Nice to see.

The aviation museum was closed up tight, but the aero club was open and welcoming. A good toilet stop.
Their two Cherokees were out in the sunshine.

Cherokee 140E ZK-DEL had a bit of a wander around the North Island back in 70s and 80s before heading south in 1992. It has been at Ashburton ever since.



Cherokee Archer II 151 ZK-EBZ has been a South Island bird since new.



The only other visible flying machine during the time we were there was Schweizer 269C-1 ZK-HYC/3 which appeared to be undergoing maintenance to the rotor blades at that stage

[corsair67]

"A bit further around I found the 'Soviet Star' flight simulator. This comprises the cockpit section from Aero L-29 Delfin ZK-SSS/2 that was damaged in an overrun of the runway at North Shore 1Feb09."

Um, Peter I have to correct you with that........it wasn't an overrun as such - rather the L-29 was caught by a tailwind as it slowly taxied along the runway, and then had to swerve to miss a giant Koala that had wander across the runway, and through no fault of the pilot it ended up going through a fence.

[Peter Lewis]

May 19, 2013 23:29:00 GMT 12 corsair67 said:

had to swerve to miss a giant Koala that had wander across the runway, and through no fault of the pilot it ended up going through a fence.

Ah yes, of course.

And I thought that the bingle was caused by a wandering heffalump.

[Peter Lewis]

Moving on from Ashburton, Tekapo was the next stop.

The Air Safaris & Services base gave us Nomad ZK-NME, Gippsland GA8 Airvan ZK-SAZ and Caravan ZK-SRI.
One has to wonder at the logistics of operating such a mixed fleet from such an isolated place.







Also out in the Lake Tekapo sunshine was one I'd never seen before, Tekweld Supapup Mk4 ZK-SUP



Some miles down the road, Grumman G-164A AgCat ZK-CAT was plying for hire



The only other call that day was Omarama, where the GA200 Fatman ZK-OMA was resting between flights.
This aircraft has a complicated history in the aerial work field, operating in Blenheim, Seddon, Amberley and Taihape before coming to rest here.



It's glider companion for the day was Schempp-Hirth Duo Discus ZK-GRZ



After an interesting discussion with a local shopkeeper about the LOTR and Xana costumes that are on display in her shop, we departed just making Shotover Lodge at Queenstown by ECT.

[flyjoe180]

Nice photos Peter, cheers.

[FlyingKiwi]

The Caravan looks extremely weird without the cargo pod underneath.

[Peter Lewis]

With a couple of days available in Queenstown, we were able to do a day trip across to Lake Hawea and Wanaka.

At the Wanaka airfield, PAC 750XL ZK-ROK was just finishing the morning's work, and about to shut down for lunch



Around at Wanaka Helicopters, Robinson R22 Beta ZK-HCT was parked while ZK-ISX arrived back from a training sorte





RANS S-6S Coyote II ZK-CDC was just visible inside one of the hangars



while outside sat taildragger Cessna Aerobat ZK-MDO



Since its arrival here, Pitts S-2B ZK-STX as always been a South Island-based aircraft, even under its previous identity as ZK-KHM. A nice looking machine

[FlyingKiwi]

Interesting the additions on the "STX" text!

[Peter Lewis]

Ok Leo, you passed this years Class 1 eyesight test.

[Peter Lewis]

Heading back from Wanaka in the late afternoon we found Robinson R44 ZK-HOA of locally based Aurum Helicopters just about to be tucked away for the night. First aircraft I have ever found at the Cromwell airtrip.



Back past Lake Hayes, the evening sunlight was just right for scenic photos. Pity we were just a week or two early for the autumn tree colours



A detour to Frankton and the Queestown airport revealed a few of the local inhabitants in the evening shadows. Not easy photography.

Gippsland GA8 Airvan ZK-LOR has been with the Glenorchy Air Services & Tourist Co. for ten years



while C172 ZK-MIF has just recently joined their fleet



Around at the areo club, Tecnam P2002-JF ZK-WAK was parked in a shady corner



Cessna 172S ZK-FIG was nearby, unfortunatly obscuring Cessna 152 ZK-ZGR which used to be owned by my friend Judith Grant. Just see the tail.



Two of The Helicopter Line's overnighters were Aerospatiale AS350B2s ZK-HAE and ZK-HSM





While on the other side of the field sat the McDonnell Douglas 500N ZK-HEN of Heliventures



So after quite a long day, back to Shotover Lodge for a bit of well-earned R & R

[DragonflyDH90]

Just for info the -172 MIF is a -206

[Peter Lewis]

Quite right - I forgot to count the windows.